Thoughts and questions regarding just about everything while taking a daily stroll with my dog.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Why Have A Senate When A "Piggy" Bank Will Do?

If I hadn't heard it with my own ears I'd not have believed it.

“There are 100 senators here and I don’t know that there’s a senator that doesn’t have something in this bill that isn’t important to them,” Reid said. “If they don’t have something in it important to them then it doesn’t speak well of them.”

Here we are belly aching about all the pork or ear marks in legislation like the $400 billion in the recently passed Defense bill yet we have the Senate majority leader chiding those who have neglected their "duty" to their states! This in an administration who's President campaigned on curbing the practice.

I know, I know, when the Republicans are in power they do the same thing. However, considering the economic health of the nation you'd like to think Congress would exercise some prudence. Especially when our chief financier, China, is warning that the world is running out of money to buy U.S. debt.

You'd never know it from the way Democrats are spreading money around among themselves! I've come to the conclusion I have no business commenting on politics. I can muster no respect for anyone involved. The Senate is no more than a piggy bank for those who stand the most firm when it comes to casting a vote for what is mostly bad legislation in the first place.

It is said the Senate is the greatest deliberative body in the world. Right. They deliberate who should get how much of our hard earned money for pet projects. They, like Unions, have outgrown their usefulness.

We have a President who has gone from the campaign rhetoric of "we" to the Presidential rhetoric of "I". We have a Congress who has been told by 60 to 70% of the people that they do not want health care reform as it stands yet they are prancing around congratulating themselves for having bribed their way to the necessary votes. What has this country come to? What depths has this Congress and Administration sunk to?

Government has gotten way to big. They've become so sodden with power they ignore why they exist in the first place. We accuse so many countries of corrupt government. Afghanistan where our soldiers are dying for that corrupt government. Iraq, Iran plus so many others. What about our own?

One can't help but notice the increase of activity among militias and neo Nazi groups. Do you suppose our own government is bringing this upon us? I certainly can't say they are blameless.